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Chapter 10 – Betrayal

Weeks after Aneesa’s engagement, before midday, Layha was still in bed, contemplating if she should confront Aslam about his little fling with Fatima. How many times is he going to look for things elsewhere and expect me not to know, I mean really how dumb does he really think I am.I found his phone last night and went through it and Fatima was the least of my problems. From sexting to naked women to other erotic stuff that I was so horrified I actually had to close my eyes when I opened it! What was going on in this man’s head. I was troubled by what I saw and lost all my sleep. I decided to investigate further and went through his browser history. What? An online dating profile. I sat there in shock, almost frozen. I dealt with his occasional drinking, his party issues and but I can’t come to terms with the fact he finds comfort in other women. This was the ultimate betrayal. I was grief stricken and felt like dying must be easier than this humiliation. Was I nothing, a doormat he can trample on.

Later that afternoon when we were finally alone I decided to confront him with all the proof I had gathered. Like any cheat he denied everything. He couldn’t understand how all that rubbish mysteriously appeared on his phone. As we approached the computer and I opened the dating site, Aslam started laughting quickly and retorted mockingly

“Oh goodness Layha, those are donkey’s years things. I have even forgotten about it.”

Finally I tackled him about Fatima.

“What is the deal with Fatima. She is so young. Are you a cradle robber? I saw that you shared a kiss with her on ‘our’ bed. How dare you?”

“A kiss, that’s all” he hurled back. Those words went through me like a knife. I got so angry I slapped him. I regretted hitting him even before my hand reached his cheek. He charged at me like a wild animal and started beating me uncontrollably. Hitting, kicking, spitting. He continued bashing me. At first it hurt. Eventually I became numb and just took it. I finally fell to the floor. All I could hear was muffled screaming and shouting. In my concussed state I had no idea what he was ranting about like a mad man. I finally blacked out. When I woke up still disorientated ,Anna, my maid, was by my side hysterical with the phone in her hand.

“Madam, there is too much blood, we must call the ambulance.” Anna insisted and yelled,

“No! no one must know” I shouted feeling pain in my ribs as I spoke.

“Layha you need a hospital!” and Anna started dialing .

It felt like eternity waiting for the ambulance. The pain was now unbearable. Finally I could finally hear sirens approaching the house. As the paramedics were wheeling me out, I heard one of them started radioing the police.I quickly tried to stop him and started pleading not to call them as it was my fault. They just ignored me and continued on the walkie talkie,

“Looks like she was moered by her husband, we are taking her to the hospital she is loosing lots of blood, over and out.” They must have given me something for the pain because before I was in the ambulance I passed out.

I woke up in the hospital feeling very croggy. The nurse brought the police into the room to interrogate me before any family arrived. They asked me all sorts of questions. All I kept on replying like a broken record,

“it wasn’t his fault, I hit him first and so he got angry. I’m a good wife.” I was naive trying to save face. I must have sounded pathetic. There I lay, broken ribs and fractured arms, still defending the dog that used me as his punching bag.

My mother walked into the room. Her face was filled with contempt. Without even saying a word I knew she blamed me for being in this sorry state. After sitting there in silence for a long time my mother finally started talking.

“A good wife is a subservient wife that takes the bad without question. Enjoy the good without complaining. Your whole life you get whatever you want. I hope you learnt your lesson.” That was the moment hate for my mother entered my heart. Was she blind? Could she not see what was happening. How could she still make this my fault. I can’t describe this hurt. It felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. This was the pinnacle of betrayal. I have never felt so alone in my whole life. a I finally realized the problem with our society, that women are expected to just bare all this crap to save face, sit there, look pretty and hope for a better day.

My emotional state was like a yo yo. I started doubting myself again. Maybe my mother was right. Aslam is good to me, so why be ungrateful and complain. My mind started racing. I need some time to sort all this out. I requested no visitors. I was now alone and abused.

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22 thoughts on “Chapter 10 – Betrayal”

So thought provoking… Its true especially in the elder generations of our indian societies, but more women are taking less s**t from their partners, and making a stand. Domestic violence, be it from a male or female, is a cowards way to control…

Too many times women blame themselves for what happened to them and always turns out saying it I asked for it I shouldn’t hAve provoked him. Takes the beating and say I deserve it. When there husband cheats says they should have been better wives then their husband wouldn’t have turned to another women. Too many times this happens. It’s daily in our community.

This post Hit alil to close to home.why do men resort to violence?if you question them they start preaching to you about how a good muslim wife should be and hw obedient she should be to her hubby,but what about the islamic rights a woman has over her husband?or what about the character of a good muslim man?what about the promises he made to her father when he removed her from the security of her parents home?why does it come down to “iv spoilt you and given you evrything you asked for”? What about respect,honour,love,protection?did she not request those things too?

An Awesome read highlighting women abuse….im hoping that this blog is going to give strength to wives out there to speak up about their abuse…..it is indeed sad….physical abuse is just as bad as emotional abuse…..feeling unloved…having yourself used for just intimacy….it is just unacceptable. My sister went through this kind of ordeal for 18 years until…she just woke up 1 day and said enough with this b***sh!t. Now she had remarried and happy as ever….and we are so happy to see her this way….Indeed Allah has granted her a good spouse…..

i hate how the mother takes the son inlaw’s path. is she so blind to see the hell her daughter is going through!!!!! women in layha’s situation should get an immediate divorce. she is better off being single then living with a Horrible man in her life. he destroys her life while he continues with his.

This is so rife in our society – yet we allow the women to be blamed as a man cant do any wrong. the abuse has to stop somewhere. Nabi (saw) was the best example yet our men dont live with that in mind.

Gripping read! It’s sad how society always blame the women it’s even sadder that women are each others worst enemies. We condemn and criticise one another instead of supporting and loving we are all sisters and need to look out for each other

the whole idea of being married,is living with that person whom comforts you,protects and takes care of you,so that you keep away from things like temptation,but it seems nowadays the temptation from before slithers it’s way in…i’m still enthralled by this writer..i’m gonna keep reading.